Strawberry plant named ‘Driscoll Malibu’

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Malibu.’ The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’. The variety is distinguished from ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’, in particular, by a flat terminal leaflet margin profile, dense petiole pubescence, 20% of plants with single bracts, a very narrow band without achenes on the fruit, and a small hollow fruit center.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

1. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and ‘Sonora’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,386) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Hillsborough Country, Fla. in 1998. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a Shasta County, Calif. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Fla., where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Malibu’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough Country, Fla. for three years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

2. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Malibu’. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

3. COMPARISON TO SIMILAR VARIETIES

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Malibu’ from those known to us are ‘Biscayne’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,186) and ‘Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. The new variety is distinguished from ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’ by having, for example, a flat terminal leaflet margin profile, dense petiole pubescence, 20% of plants with single bracts, a very narrow band without achenes on the fruit, and a small hollow fruit center.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage, and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the whole the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 3 shows the under side and upperside of the flowers.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

FIG. 5 shows a close-up of the fruit.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants and fruit grown in Hillsborough Country, Fla., U.S.A. This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Observations of ‘Driscoll Malibu’, ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’ were taken in side-by-side comparison in 2002-2003. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S.) Colour Chart.

5.2 PROPAGATION

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

5.3. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW VARIETY

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on one-year-old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers. Flowers of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ are fully self-fertile and typical of the species. The average size of the hollow fruit center of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ is 8.0 mm. ‘Driscoll Malibu’ differs from its maternal parent ‘Marathon’ by possessing darker red fruit and having superior shelf-life. Plants of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ are less vigorous and more compact than those of ‘Marathon.’ ‘Driscoll Malibu’ differs from its paternal parent ‘Sonora’ by being partially everbearing, while ‘Sonora’ is fully everbearing. In addition, the fruit of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ is brighter red than those of ‘Sonora.’

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Malibu’ compared with characteristics of ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Malibu’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Biscayne’ and ‘Madeira’.

TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’, ‘BISCAYNE’, AND ‘MADEIRA’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ ‘BISCAYNE’ ‘MADEIRA’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm)  13.6  13.5  15.8 Spread of Plant (cm)  34.1  32.6  36.1 Number of Crowns  3.9  5.2  4.2 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet Length  8.7  8.6  9.4 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width  8.8  8.8  8.4 (cm) Terminal Leaflet Length/  0.99  0.98  1.12 Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal Leaflet  20.1  23.8  18.8 Color of upper side 141A 137A 147A light to light green dark green medium green Color of under side 139C 139C 137B light gray light gray light gray green green green Petiole Length (cm)  11.4  11.7  11.0 Petiole Color 144B 141D 144B yellow-green yellow-green yellow-green Bract Frequency 20% 60% 80% typically typically typically single double double Stipule Length (cm)  3.8  3.5  3.2 Stipule Width (cm)  2.0  1.9  2.2 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color 58A 59B 59C red purple red purple red purple Diameter at bract (mm)  3.35  3.29  2.77 Avg. # of Daughter  46  59  59 plants/Mother (2002 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm)  1.3  1.4  1.4 Petal Width (cm)  1.4  1.6  1.5 Petal Length/Width Ratio  0.94  0.85  0.91 Flower Diameter (cm)  3.2  3.5  3.3 Calyx Diameter (cm)  4.1  4.6  4.1 Petal Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Fruiting Truss Length  13.3  12.5  12.0 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm)  4.8  4.9  5.0 Fruit Width (cm)  3.8  4.1  4.3 Fruit Length/Width Ratio  1.28  1.20  1.18 Average Berry Weight  23.4  24.7  24.3 (g) External Color 46B 46B 46A red red dark red Internal Color 48C 44A 43A orange red medium red medium red 2002-2003 Yield (g/ 199 143 247 plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’, ‘BISCAYNE’, AND ‘MADEIRA’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ ‘BISCAYNE’ ‘MADEIRA’ Plant Habit globose flat globose flat globose Density medium medium medium Vigor weak to strong strong medium Leaf Shape in cross section slightly concave concave concave to flat Interveinal blistering medium weak medium Glossiness weak medium medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet margin flat revolute revolute profile Terminal leaflet shape of rounded rounded obtuse base Terminal leaflet shape of obtuse to rounded rounded teeth rounded Stipule pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pubescence dense medium medium Petiole pose of hairs downwards outwards downwards Stolon Amount medium many many Anthocyanin coloration medium to strong strong to strong very strong Thickness medium to medium medium to thick thick Pubescence medium medium medium Inflorescence Position relative to foliage level to level beneath above Diameter of calyx relative larger larger larger to corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx larger same size same size relative to outer on secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical conical conical Difference in shapes slight slight slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow narrow narrow Unevenness of surface medium weak weak Evenness of color uneven slightly even even uneven Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes below to level with level with level with surface surface the surface Insertion of calyx level level level Pose of the calyx segments reflexed spreading reflexed Size of calyx in relation to same size to larger smaller fruit on secondary fruit larger Adherence of calyx strong strong strong Firmness of flesh soft to firm medium medium Evenness of flesh color slightly slightly uneven slightly uneven uneven Distribution of flesh color marginal and marginal and marginal and central central central Hollow center size small large medium Sweetness medium strong weak to medium Texture when tasted medium fine fine Acidity medium medium weak to medium Time of Flowering very early early very early Harvest Interval in late early December late 2002-2003 November through late November through late March through late March March Type of Bearing partially partially partially evebearing everbearing everbearing

5.4. REACTION TO STRESS, PESTS, AND DISEASE

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’, ‘BISCAYNE’, AND ‘MADEIRA’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ ‘BISCAYNE’ ‘MADEIRA’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt highly susceptible moderately susceptible susceptible Strawberry Mottle Virus susceptible susceptible partially resistant Xanthomonas fragariae moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible

5.5. ISOZYME ANALYSIS

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Malibu’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Malibu’, ‘Biscayne’, and ‘Madeira’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article.

TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’, ‘BISCAYNE’, AND ‘MADEIRA’ ‘DRISCOLL Locus MALIBU’ ‘BISCAYNE’ ‘MADEIRA’ PGI A1 A1 A1 LAP B3 B3 B1 PGM C4 C4 C2 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 